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ISI provided protection to Lashkar: NYT
Militants torch 60 more NATO vehicles
Bush for conditional military aid to Pak
Pak territory used for Mumbai attack: Rice
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Arrested terrorist Kasab ‘is from Pak’
Ex-ISI chief offers himself before UN for ‘inquisition’
Not to hand over wanted men to India
Indo-Canadians pay tributes to Mumbai victims
More violence to come, warns Taliban chief
Obama promises not to smoke in White House
Age Discrimination Case
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ISI provided protection to Lashkar: NYT
American intelligence and counterterrorism officials were quoted by the New York Times as saying that LeT has quietly gained strength in recent years with the assistance of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which has allowed the group to train and raise money while other militants have been under siege. Officials said though there was no hard evidence yet to link the spy agency to the Mumbai attacks, ISI shared intelligence with Lashkar and provided protection for it. The ISI has shared intelligence with Lashkar and provided protection for it, the officials told the paper, and investigators are focusing on one Lashkar leader they believe is the main liaison with the spy service and a mastermind of the attacks. American and Indian officials believe that Zarrar Shah is one of the group’s primary liaisons to the ISI. “He’s a central character in this plot,” one American official said. Lashkar, the Times noted, also has a history of using local extremist groups for knowledge and tactics in its operations. Investigators in Mumbai are following leads suggesting that Lashkar used the SIMI, a fundamentalist group that advocates establishing an Islamic state in India, for early reconnaissance and logistical help. As a result of the assault on India’s financial hub, American counterterrorism and military officials say they are reassessing their view of Lashkar and believe it to be more capable and a greater threat than they had previously recognised. Pakistani officials have denied any government connection to the siege on November 26-29, in which nearly 200 persons were killed in Mumbai. As the American, European and Middle Eastern governments crack down on the Al-Qaida’s finances, Lashkar still has a flourishing fund-raising organisation in South Asia and the Persian Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, the Times quoted counterterrorism officials as saying. The group primarily uses its charity wing, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, to raise money, ostensibly for causes in Pakistan. — PTI
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Militants torch 60 more NATO vehicles
Islamabad, December 8 The heavily armed militants stormed Bilal Terminal in the early hours after opening fire at watchmen. They then lobbed grenades and torched container trucks and other cars, including Humvee armoured vehicles, TV channels reported. It was the second such attack since yesterday and the third since December 1. Three persons were killed and over 150 vehicles meant for US-led forces in Afghanistan were destroyed when scores of militants stormed two terminals in Peshawar yesterday. Witnesses said container trucks containing supplies and heavy equipment were destroyed in today’s attack. Some reports said the militants also used rockets during the strike. There were no reports of casualties in the incident. Senior superintendent of police Kashif Alam said fire tenders were called in to the control the ablaze. No group claimed responsibility for the attack but authorities usually blame the local Taliban for such strikes. — PTI
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Bush for conditional military aid to Pak
The outgoing Bush administration is recommending to the incoming Obama team that US military aid to Pakistan in future be made conditional on the Pakistani military’s ‘reconfiguration to effectively fight the Taliban’.
According to a report in the New York Times by David Sanger, the proposal or review is among an array of options, and includes the observation that the $10 billion in military aid provided to Pakistan as ‘reimbursement’ for its efforts to root out militant groups has been ‘largely wasted’. The payments are believed by many here to have been used to ‘build up Pakistani forces against India’. But Pakistan has maintained that the money was given for carrying out military operation in tribal areas for which Pakistan moved nearly 100,000 troops in 2003. Pakistan’s participation in the war on terror after 9/11 caused enormous economic, political and social dislocation in the country amounting to billions of dollars. In a related report, President-elect Barack Obama offered guarded praise for the actions of President Asif Ali Zardari in the aftermath of Mumbai bombings saying, “he has sent the right signals”, and expressed hope for establishing “close, effective working relationship”. In an interview with NBC News for the ‘Meet the Press’ programme on Sunday, Obama said: “Thus far, President Zardari has sent the right signals. He’s indicated that he recognises this is not just a threat to the United States but is a threat to Pakistan, as well.” Obama also observed: “There was a bombing in Pakistan just yesterday that killed scores of people. And so you’re seeing greater and greater terrorist activity inside Pakistan.” “I think this democratically elected government understands that threat, and I hope that in the coming months that we are going to be able to establish the kind of close, effective working relationship that makes both countries safer,” Obama said. Revamping the aid to the military was part of a three-month study of what has gone wrong in the seven-year war along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The study calls for a new and broadly regional approach to insurgents that ‘move freely’ across the mountainous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the short term, it calls for ‘continued covert strikes into Pakistani territory from Afghanistan’, although the American military has been reluctant to conduct ground attacks. A senior official involved in drafting the study headed by White House war czar Lt Gen Douglas Lute said, “We’ve gone seven long years proclaiming that Pakistan was an ally, and that it was doing everything we asked in the war on terror ... and the truth is that $10 billion later, they still don’t have the basic capacity for counterinsurgency operations. What we are telling Obama and his people is that has to be reversed.”
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Pak territory used for Mumbai attack: Rice
Washington, December 8 “I think there is no doubt that Pakistani territory was used by probably non-state actors. I don’t think that there is compelling evidence of involvement of Pakistani officials. But I do think that Pakistan has a responsibility to act. And it doesn’t matter that they’re non-state actors,” secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said. Her comment came in the backdrop of India’s claim that Pakistan-based militant group,
Lashkar-e-Toiba, was involved in the Mumbai carnage. “Pakistan needs to act. India and Pakistan need to cooperate. And I do believe that if that is done, they can bring the perpetrators to justice. But they can also prevent a follow-on attack, which has to be a concern,” Rice said on CNN’s late edition last night. In regard to militant outfits using Pakistani soil to carry out terrorist activities, she said, “There were problems with this from Pakistani territory. There are historical problems with Pakistani territory in this regard.” Asked about the relationship between the militant group and the Pakistani government, the intelligence agency or the military services, she said, “There have been historic ties. There is no doubt about that. But Pakistan is a different place now with a civilian government and an army leadership that is working in concert to bring an end to extremism within Pakistan.” Asked if Pakistan is doing enough to deal with these terrorists Rice replied, “They are certainly, I believe, committed to doing so. But we are awaiting action, and that action needs to take place soon”. Noting that the US has special concern over Mumbai attacks, which also targetted Americans, Rice said, “I did emphasise to the Pakistani government that the US, of course, has a special interest in the sense Americans were also killed”. “It is very clear that Pakistan’s principal problem here is not India. The relationship is improving between Pakistan and India. But there are plenty of people who want to see that relationship blown up. And the Pakistanis and the Indians need to continue or to get back on a course of cooperation” Rice said. Reacting to a media article that called for reviewing US’ relations with Islamabad, Rice said Washington treated the Pakistani government as an integrated and unified one and she had heard nothing in Pakistan that suggested that there were divisions in this regard between the army and the government. Rice said, “This is an elected civilian government. It has the kind of legitimacy that the Pakistani government has not had since 1999. And I believe that it is in actually as strong a position because of that to act. But we have been working with the Pakistanis on this for some time. This didn’t start yesterday, it didn’t start with the review of helping the Pakistanis to think in a more counterinsurgency, counterterrorism way.” “But we in the US have found that it’s not easy to restructure your armed forces from forces that are principally aimed at fighting another state actor to forces that can deal with ungoverned regions, safe havens, and not to mention the kind of union of law enforcement and intelligence information that it takes in the war on terrorism” she added.
— PTI
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Arrested terrorist Kasab ‘is from Pak’
A correspondent for The Observer, London, claims to have established that the lone surviving Mumbai gunman, named Ajmal Amir Kasab, comes from Faridkot, a village in the Okara district, about 150 km south west of Lahore.
The correspondent, Saeed Shah, who visited the village, writes that he has obtained electoral lists for Faridkot showing 478 registered voters, including Muhammad Amir, married to one Noor Elahi, the parents of Ajmal. Their national identity card numbers are also said to have been obtained. At the house where the family is said to live, a man calling himself Sultan said he was Muhammad Amir’s father-in-law. One villager told the correspondent that Faridkot was an active recruiting ground for Lashkar-e-Toiba. “We know that boy is from Faridkot. We knew from the first night. They brainwash our youth about jihad, there are people who do it in this village. It is so wrong.” Kasab (21), interrogated in custody after the attacks, reportedly told Indian security officials that he came from a place called Faridkot in the Punjab province. His father was named as Muhammad Amir, married to a woman named Noor. “The Observer has managed to obtain an electoral roll for Faridkot, which falls under union council number 5, tehsil (area) Depalpur, district Okara,” the report said. “The list of 478 registered voters shows a Muhammad Amir, married to Noor Elahi, living in Faridkot. Amir’s national identity card number is given as 3530121767339, and Noor’s is 3530157035058.” The reporter could not meet Amir, the father, but said: “Villagers eventually told us that he and his wife, Noor, had been mysteriously spirited away earlier in the week.” But those who knew the family were incensed by reports that Ajmal spoke fluent English when interrogated by the Mumbai police. Ajmal had little education, according to locals. “If he did indeed speak fluent English, as claimed in Indian press reports, he would have learnt that after he left the village,” the report said. Other reports coming from Mumbai have revealed little about Ajmal’s life, when he left the village, where did he get the training for suicide missions and why did he allow himself be captured rather than committing suicide. An AFP report from Mumbai said he was systematically programmed into a highly trained suicide guerrilla over 18 months in camps.
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Ex-ISI chief offers himself before UN for ‘inquisition’
Islamabad, December 8 Reports here said the US planned to send names of Gul and three other Pakistanis, all said to be former top officers of ISI, as also some Pakistan-based terror groups to the United Nations Security Council for imposing sanctions against them for alleged links with terror activities. Gul, who served as ISI chief during 1987-89, said he had come to know about a purported US document in this regard from a journalist. “I will directly reach out to (UN secretary general) Ban ki Moon and ask him to set up an international commission here in Pakistan and I shall be prepared to present myself for inquisition,” said Gul. Dismissing the US charge of his having links with the Taliban and Al-Qaida as a “pack of lies”, Gul asked the Pakistan government to come out in his defence. Gul said he had no contacts with the Pakistani Taliban and its leadership or with militant commander Sirajuddin Haqqani. He also stated that he was not in any way involved in recruiting youth from madrassas to fight in Afghanistan. The inclusion of Gul and others on the UN list would lead to freezing of their assets. ‘The News’ recently reported it had accessed a secret US document that listed charges against Gul. Noting that the government is currently pre-occupied with dealing with the fallout of the Mumbai attacks, Gul said he was hopeful the matter would be taken up with the UN soon. Gul had yesterday dismissed as “nonsense” a Washington Post report that Pakistan has agreed to arrest and hand him over to India in connection with the probe into the Mumbai terror attacks. “The US is bringing all these charges against me because they do not like hearing any voices of opposition. I will continue opposing their policies. The US is an aggressor nation and its presence is bad for the entire region,” he said. Gul, who has been accused of instigating the militancy in Jammu and Kashmir in the late 1980s, was named by slain former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto as one of the persons who should be investigated if she was
killed. — PTI
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Not to hand over wanted men to India Islamabad, December 8 Pakistan's response, handed over by foreign secretary Salman Bashir to Indian High Commissioner Satyabrata Pal this evening, said Islamabad would itself take action against individuals if information provided by New Delhi proved they were involved in terrorism, diplomatic sources told the media. The government turned down India’s demand to hand over mob bosses Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon and Jaish-e-Mohammed founder Maulana Masood Azhar citing the lack of an extradition treaty between the two countries, the sources said. The Pakistani side also pointed to a decision made by the defence committee of the Cabinet that action against Pakistani nationals involved in terrorism would be taken within the ambit of the country’s laws, the sources said. A statement issued by the foreign office spokesman said it had been proposed that a high-level delegation should visit New Delhi to look into allegations of Pakistan-based elements being linked to the Mumbai attacks. “The High Commissioner was informed that the government of Pakistan had initiated investigations on its own into the allegations that have surfaced concerning involvement of any individual or entity in Pakistan in the Mumbai attacks,” the statement said. — PTI
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Indo-Canadians pay tributes to Mumbai victims
Toronto, December 8 Over 50 Indo-Canadian Associations, including the Canada India Foundation, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce and the Panorama India, gathered at Toronto International Convention Centre in Mississauga yesterday and offered their tributes by lighting candles in the honour of the victims. A rally was also organised on the occasion to express solidarity and support of the community towards the victims, which saw the participation of multi-faith and multi-ethnic associations.
— PTI
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More violence to come, warns Taliban chief
Kabul, December 8 In a statement posted yesterday on a militant-linked web site, Omar also rejected president Hamid Karzai’s calls for peace talks until foreign troops leave the country. Afghanistan is going through its most violent period since the Taliban was ousted in the US-led invasion in 2001. Omar released his message at the start of Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of the Sacrifice.”
— AP
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Obama promises not to smoke in White House
Washington, December 8 In a country where cigarettes are responsible for one in five deaths and smoking costs tens of billions of dollars in health care, Obama has been under pressure to set an example by giving up his reported two-decade-old habit. Appearing
on NBC’s “Meet the Press” programme yesterday, interviewer Tom
Brokaw told Obama he had ducked answering the question during an
interview past month with ABC’s Barbara Walters. Noting that the
White House was a no-smoking zone, Brokaw asked Obama, “Have you
stopped smoking?” “I have,” Obama replied, smiling broadly. “What
I said was that there are times where I have fallen off the wagon.” “Wait
a minute,” Brokaw interjected, “that means you haven’t stopped.”
“Fair enough,” Obama said, “what I would say is that I have done a
terrific job under the circumstances of making myself much healthier.
You will not see any violations of these rules in the White House.” Obama
had often been observed on the presidential campaign trail chewing
Nicorette gum, which helps ease the craving for nicotine. He has tried
several times to quit.
— Reuters
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Age Discrimination Case
London, December 8 57-year-old Selina Scott had claimed she was in line to work maternity cover for Natasha Kaplinsky on Five News but was bypassed because she was too old. Scott had complained against the channel to an employment tribunal, claiming it had turned her down for the job because she was too old. She had also claimed that she was the victim of sexism and breach of contract. The hearing at the employment tribunal was due to start today. TV bosses would not give details of the settlement but it was believed to be worth £250,000. A spokesperson for Channel Five said: “The proceedings brought by Scott against Five under new age discrimination laws have been settled. Five has apologised for the offence it caused Scott. The financial terms of the settlement are confidential.” In June, Channel Five had announced Kaplinsky’s replacements would be Isla Traquair (28) and Matt Barbet (32). Scott worked for News At Ten before helping to launch the BBC’s Breakfast Time programme in the early 80s. She went on to present programmes including The Clothes Show. — PTI
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New York, December 8